Couch



A. J. SPRAGUE April 12, 1960 COUCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 22, 1957April 12, 1960 Filed Aug. 22, 1957 A. J. SPRAGUE COUCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2United States PatentO COUCH Arthur J. Sprague, Spring Valley, Calif.

Application August 22, 1957, Serial No. 679,647

9 Claims. (Cl. -62) 1 This invention. relates to couches, and moreparticularly to a couch which permits the user to recline comfortably inan inclined head-down position as for therapeutic purposes.

The invention is an improvement upon the couch shown in my copendingapplication Serial No. 497,263, filed March 28, 1955, for Couch, nowabandoned, among the several objects of the invention being theprovision of an improved construction for a couch of the general, typeshown in said copending application, comprising a pivoted platform orcradle which is tiltable to an inclined position for permitting the userto recline comfortably in an inclined head-down position, theconstruction being such that once adjusted so as to be balanced for aparticular user, the cradle may be tilted to a generally verticalposition and the user may take a standing position thereon and theneasily effect tilting of the cradle to any desired inclination; and theprovision of a construction such 'as described which is readilyadjustable to provide for balancing in the case of users of differentheight and different weight distribution. Other objects and featureswill be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafterdescribed, the scope of the invention being indicated in the followingclaims.

thereof in a generally upright position;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the couch with the cradle thereof in thegenerally upright position in which it is shown in Fig. 3;

The bushings 9 serve for the pivotal mounting of a cradle carriergenerally designated 11 and comprising a pair of sector-shaped frames 13joined by a torque bar 15. Each sector-shaped frame 13 (hereinafterreferred to as a sector) comprises a pair of flat bars 17 and 19 whichare joined together at and which diverge from the apex 21 of the sector,and an arcuate bar 23 which joins the ends of the bars '17 and 19, beingcurved on an are centered in the apex of the sector. The torque bar 15consists of a length of pipe or thin-walled conduit having its endswelded to bars 25 which are bolted to the bars 17 of the sectors. Eachsector 13 has a pivotpin 27 fixed thereto at one end of itsarcuate bar23 (the end where bars 23 and 19 meet) extending outward through therespective bushing 9. The outer end of each pivot pin 27 is threaded andreceives a stop nut 29.

The-cradle 1 comprises a generally rectangular board 31 having a widthsomewhat less than the spacing of the A-frames 5 (and suflicientcomfortably to support a person), and a length somewhat less than theheight of the average person. Side boards 33 are provided at oppositesides of the board 31. It will be understood that padding may beprovided on boards 31 and 33. Fastened to the bottom of the board 31adjacent its side edges and at a distance from one end of the boardwhich 'constitutes its foot about one-fourth the length of the board areshort lengths of angle iron 35 (see Fig. 3). The cradle 1 is pivotallymounted with respect to cradle carrier 11 by means of bolts 37 whichextend through bolt holes in these angle irons and bolt holes in thesectors 13 located at the sector centers. The bolts 37 for pivotallymounting the cradle with respect to the cradle carrier or sectors areaxially aligned and define an auxiliary horizontal axis identified asaxis B which is parallel to the primary axis A- As shown, auxiliary axisB and the plane of cradlel are located below primary axis A when thecradle is in a horizontal position.

' Means is provided for holding the cradle 1 in various positions ofadjustment relative to axis A (these positions being obtained byswinging the cradle relative to the eradle carrier 11 on axis B). Asshown, the arcuate bar 23 of each sector 13 is provided with'a series ofpinreceiving holes 39 which are spaced at equal intervals.

4 Secured to the bottom of. the cradle board 31 ancl ex- Fig. 3 is arear elevation of the couch-with the cradle Fig. 5 is an enlarged crosssection taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3; v

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 3; and, 7

Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross section taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 4.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corre sponding partsthroughout the several views of the draw- -.1ngs.

Referring to the drawings, a couch of this invention tending completelyacross the bottom of this board is an angle iron 41. Extending from theends of this angle iron on the outside of the side boards 33 are flatbars 43 (see Figs. 2, 4 and 6). Securedto these bars 43..are U-shapedmembers 45 which straddle the arcuate bars 23 of the sectors 13. I

Fastened to the angle iron 41 at its center is a guide 47 comprising ashort bar having outwardly projecting end ears 49. Looking pins 51 forentry in the holes 39 .in the arcuate sector bar 23 are axially slidablein holes in the bars 43, the inner legs of the U-shaped members 45 andthe end ears 49 of guide 47. These locking pins are formed from rodswhich are bent to provide handle portions 53 at the inner ends of thepins extending at right angles to the pins. Compression springs 55 whichis shown to comprise a cradle generally designated 1 pivotally carriedby a base generally designated 3. The

base comprises a pair of side supports each generally designated 5joined by crossbars 7 and 8. Each side support 5, as shown, comprises anA-shaped frame, made for example of pipe lengths or lengths ofthin-walled conduit. At the apex of each of the side frames 5 is ahorizontal bushing 9, welded in place in a hole in the frame, extendingtransversely with respect to the base. The two bushings 9 in the twoframes are axially aligned and define a primary horizontal axisidentified as axis A. I

surround the pins 51 react from the ears 49 of guide 47 againstwashersv57 on the pins 51, these washers abutting against cotter pins 59received in holes in the pins 51. These springs 55 bias the pins 51outward to their locking positionill'ustrated in Fig. 3 in whichtheouter end of each pin 51 is entered in a hole 39 of a respectivearcuate sector bar 23 and engages the outer leg of the respectiveU-shaped member 45. Tdrelease the pins 51 from holes 39, the handles 53are grasped and 3 squeezed toward one another to slide the pinse'linward against the bias of springs 55. Guides such as.indicated at maybe provided on the cradle side boards 33 for guiding the arcuate sectorbars 23. v

" guides 63, 75 and ears '73. formed from rods which are bent to providehandle portions 79 at the inner ends of the pins extending at rightboards 31 and 33.

'guide 85 is a U-shaped pin guide 101.

hastened to the bottom of the cradle board 31 adjacent opposite sidesthereof and extending longitudinally of the board from the foot of theboard are tubular guides 63 which may be of rectangular cross section.Slidable in these guides are tubular bars 65 which may also be' ofrectangular cross section and dimensioned for a sliding lit in theguides 63. Spanning the lower end of the bars 65 is a foot rest 67 whichextends generally at right angles to the length of bars 65 and thecradle board 31 back across the foot of the board 31. Bars 65 whichcarry the foot rest are'slidable'in the guides 63 to adjust the footrest longitudinally with respect to the era- Means is provided forlocking the foot 'rest'67 in various'positions of adjustment relativetothe cradle 1. As shown, each bar 65 has a series of holes 69 inits'inside wall. fastened toth e bottomof the cradle board 31at the centerthereof and"closely adjacent'its foot is a'pin guide 71 comprising a'short bar having outwardly'pr ojctingend ea r's73. Fastened to thebottom of the board adjacent the inside ofguides 63 and in line withguide 71 are angle-section guides 75. Locking pins 77 for entry in theholes 69 are axially slidable in holes in the These locking'pins areangles to the pins. Compression springs 81 which surround the pins 77react from the ears 73 of guide 71 against washers 83 on the pins 77,these washers abutting against cotter pins 84 received in holes in thepins 77. These springs 81 bias the pins 77 outward to their lockingposition illustrated in Fig. 3 in which the outer end of each pin isentered in a hole 69 of a respective bar 65. To release thepins 77 fromholes 69, the han- 'dles 79 are grasped and squeezed toward one anotherto slide the pins 77 inward against the bias of springs 81.

Fastened to; the bottomofthe cradle board 3l extendinglongitudinally'and centrally thereof under the angle iron 41is a tubularguide 85 of rectangular cross section. Spacers 87 are provided under theangle iron 41 on opposite sides of the guide 85. Slidable in guide 85 isa tubular bar 89 also of rectangular 'cross section and dimensioned fora sliding fit in the guide 85. Bar 89 extends out of the guide beyondthe head end of the board. At its outer end is-a gooseneck member 91 towhich is fastened the headboard 93 of a head and shoulder restdesignated in its entirety by the reference character 95. Fastened m neheadboard 9 3 at the inner corners thereof and 'proje cting laterallyoutward therefrom are shoulder rests 9 7. It will be understood'that"thehead and shoulder rest maybe padded like the cradle The bar 89 whichcarries the head and shoulder rest is slidable' in guide 85 to adjustthehead and shoulder rest 95 longitudinally with respect to the cradle 1.Means 'er'107 which: abuts a, cotter pin 109. Pin 193 has its outer endformed asaneye 111 to serve as a handle.

A handle 113 is provided on bar 89. For steadying bar- 89, it hasajcross bar 115 (see Fig. 3) which has grooves at 117 receiving runners119 fastened to the bottom of thecradleboard 31. Circular hand rests 121have chords 123 welded to the upper ends of the A- frames.5. Springlatch means such as indicated at 125 may be-provided forlatchingthecradle 1 in the Fig. 4

7 position. As shown in Figs. 24 and 7, this latch means comprises aspring' clip -127 mounted at -the center "of crossbar 7, anda detent 129mounted on the bottom of the cradle engageable in the clip.

The credle 1 is balanced for a particular user in the following manner:With the cradle in the generally upright position such as is shown inFig. 4, and latched therein by the latch means 125, the locking pins 51for the sectors 13 are released to allow the cradle 1 to rotate on axisB, and the cradle is rotated to an approximate position of adjustmentand locked therein by entry of the locking pins in the appropriate holesin the arcuate sector bars. For example, the cradle may be adjusted to aposition wherein the board bisects the sectors. With this approximateadjustment made, the user stands on the foot rest 67, leans back againstthe cradle, and an assistant swings the cradle to the horizontalposition in which the cradle is shown in Fig. 2. Then the user shiftshis body 'toward 'one'end or the other of'the'cradle, as may berequired,'to a position of balance, i.c., to a position whereinthece'nter of gravity of the user with his arms at his sides and thecradle is in a vertical plane including the axis A. Then the foot rest67 is adjusted to contact the users feet and the head and shoulder rest95 is adjusted for the shoulder rests 97 to contact his shoulders. Thus,the foot rest and shoulder rests are located to determine thelongitudinal position which the user must assume on the cradle forequilibrium in respect to axis A. Then the cradle is returned to thegenerally upright position of Fig. 4, and a final swinging adjustment ofcradle 1 about axis B is made, if needed, for equilibrium in thisposition about axis A, i.c., a final adjustment is made to bring thecenter of gravity of the user with his arms at his sides and the cradlein the line of axis A.

Thus, the cradle is adjusted so that with this particular user thereon,with his feet against the foot rest and his shoulders against theshoulder rests, and his arms at his sides, the combined weight of theuser and cradle is nicely balanced with respect to axis A, so that thecradle may be swung on axis A to any desiredposition (including aposition wherein the users head is down) without appreciable effort andwill remain in any position in which it is stopped. Swinging of thecradle may be accomplished, for example, by lifting the arms to changethe location of the center of gravity or by grasping the hand rests 121and pulling or pushing.

'In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageOus results attained.

As various changes could be made in the, above constructions withoutdeparting from thescope of theinvention, it is intended that'allmattercontained'in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawingsshall be interpreted" asillustrative and not in a limitingsense.

I claim: 7

1. A couch comprising a pair of side supports, a cradle carrierpivotally mounted on said side supports for pivotal movement on aprimary horizontal axis, a cradle carried by said cradle carrier forpivotal movement relative to said cradle carrier toward and away fromsaid primary axis on an auxiliary horizontal axis parallel to theprimary axis, said auxiliary axis and the plane of said cradle beinglocated'below said primary axiswhen said cradle isin a horizontalposition, and means for holding the cradle locked to the cradlecarrier-in various positions of angular adjustment relative to saidcradle carrier.

2. A couchcomprisinga pair of side supports, a. cradte carrier,pivotally mounted on said side supports for pivotal movement on aprimary horizontal axis and located between said side supports, saidcradle carrier comprising a pair of fiat carrier members having pivotsextending outward therefrom journalled in the side supports, and meansinterconnectingsaid'fiatcarrier members-for conjoint rotation-ofsaid'pivots, a cradle carried by and between said-carrier-membersforpivotal movement-relative to said cradle carrier toward and away fromsaid primary axis on an auxiliary horizontal axis parallel to theprimary axis, and means on the cradle engageable with said carriermembersfor holding the cradle locked thereto in various positions ofangular-adjustment relative to said cradle carrier.

3. A couch as set forth in claim 2 further comprising I a foot rest atone end of said cradie mounted for adjust ment in longitudinal directionrelative to the cradle, and a head and shoulder rest at the other end ofthe cradle mounted for adjustment in longitudinal direction relative tothe cradle.

4. A couch comprising a pairof side supports, a

cradle carrier pivotally mounted on said side supports for pivotalmovement on a primary horizontal axis and located between said sidesupports, said cradle carrier comprising a pair of sectors having pivotsadjacent one outer corner thereof extending outward therefrom andjonrnalled in the side supports, a bar interconnecting the sectors forconjoint rotation thereof on said pivots, a cradle carried by andbetween said sectors for pivotal movement relative to said cradlecarrier toward and away from said primary axis on an auxiliaryhorizontal axis parallel to the primary axis and located at the centersof the sectors, and means on the bottom of the cradle engageable withthe sectors for holding the cradle locked thereto in various positionsof adjustment relative thereto.

5. A couch as set forth in claim 4 wherein the said means for holdingthe cradle locked to the sectors comprises a pair of pins mounted on thebottom of the cradle for transverse sliding movement, the outer ends ofthe pins being engageable in holes in the sectors, each sector having anarcuate series of pin-receiving holes located on an are centered in thesaid auxiliary axis, the pins being biased in outward direction.

6. A couch as set forth in claim 5 further comprising a pair of tubularguides on the bottom of the cradle extending longitudinally thereof fromone end thereof, bars slidable in said guides and extending beyond saidone end of the cradle, a foot rest spanning the bars at their outerends, and means on the bottom of the cradle 6 for locking the bars inthe guides at various positions of longitudinal adjustment.

7. A couch as set forth in claim 6 wherein the said means for lockingthe bars comprises a pair of pins mounted on the bottom of the cradlefor transverse sliding movement, the outer ends of the pins extendingthrough holes in the tubuiar guides and being engageable in holes in thebars, each bar having a longitudinal series of pin-receiving holes, thepins being biased in outward direction.

8. A couch as set forth in claim 7 further comprising a tubular guide onthe bottom of the cradle extending longitudinally thereof, a barslidable in said guide and extending beyond the other end of the cradle,a head and shoulder rest cmried by said bar, and means on the bottom ofthe cradle for locking the bar in the guide at various positions oflongitudinal adjustment.

9. A couch as set forth in claim 8 wherein the said means for lockingthe'bar comprises a pin mounted for movement toward and away from thebottom of the cradle, the inner end of the pin extending through a holein the tubular guide and being engageable in a hole in the bar, the barhaving a longitudinal series of pinreceiving holes, the pin being biasedinward toward the bottom of the cradle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,401,027 Adler Dec. 20, 1921 2,176,342 Hoppe Oct. 17, 1939 2,179,085 DeRose Nov. 7, 1939 2,308,747 Froelich Jan. 19, 1943 2,366,972 LawrenceJan. 9, 1945 2,446,275 Glasin Aug. 3, 1948 2,475,289 MacGregor July 5,1949 2,515,261 Poskin July 18, 1950 2,562,339 Socol July 31, 19512,574,091 Eaton Nov. 6, 1951 2,630,800 Voss et al. Mar. 10, 19532,735,738 Berne Feb. 21, 1956

